On Saturday of our class ministry trip to Vermont we were not scheduled for any stage performances. This made for a nice change of pace, but it doesn't mean our schedule slowed down any. Instead of showing up at a venue and setting up a show, waiting for the audience to arrive, then giving them 45-60 minutes of juggling, magic, tumbling and skits, we started our day in the Essex Junction Memorial Day parade; Vermonts largest parade. Arriving at the stepping off place early allowed the students to warm up, but it also allowed them to meet others around them: Miss Vermont and Miss Teen Vermont were both there, as were C3PO, Chewbacca, and several storm troopers, and a group of cannoneers with an authentic civil war cannon. My students met these and a variety of other parade entries.
The parade stepped off at 10 AM, and for 1.2 miles LOL walked through the streets of my old home town, juggling and diaboloing the entire time. Part way along the parade route, I was called to the side of the road by the family that lived next door when I was a kid: Dave, Diane and Alison Desautels. Obviously I didn't get to visit for long because the parade kept going, but we exchanged hugs. I hadn't seen their daughter Alison since 2000. She had been such a special person to my father, it was great to see her and give her a hug.
The team was exhausted when the parade ended, but we had more planned. After lunch at the base, we drove down to Tunbridge, where two very special friends live. Sue Thomas-the inspiration for the early 2000's TV show Sue Thomas FBEye- and her personal assistant, Deb live in a mountain retreat there. It has become a tradition to spend part of a day there and help with any chores they might need done. This year it was mostly gathering brush into the burn pile. After a couple hours of work (I got to drive the John Deere for the first time in my life!) we had a cook out, worship time and a time for the kids and chaperones to share how God had been working in them throughout the weekend. Sue also shared a special message with us about being bold in our faith.
Normally we would then disperse around the retreat grounds for a time of quiet prayer and meditation, but it had begun to rain. Instead we headed back to our base early and had quiet reflection time there. But we still were not done.